Instrument



Patented Apr. 28, 1936 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT Albert F. Spitzglass, Chicago, Ill., as'signor to Republic Flow Meters Company, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application May a, 1935, Serial No. 19,558

11 Claims. (01. 73-109) This invention relates to instruments, and is tube I8 protected by means such as oppositely illustrated as embodied in a novel recording or wound fiat spiral wirings 20 forming a flexible indicating thermometer having a remote control. protective casing.

An object of the invention is to provide an im- The end of the tube I8 is soldered or otherwise proved housed and protected sub-assembly for the sealed to the fixed end of a fiat hollow Bourdon gas-filled helix or'its equivalent, and the associtube 22 which is wound tof-orm a helix of subated operating parts, preferably having a novel stantial size. The bulb and the tube l8 and the cup-shaped housing inclosing said parts and havhelix 22 are filled in'the usual manner with a ingahead and cap looked over its open end. The gas under pressure, a gas being selected whose housing is especially adapted for mounting on changes of temperature in the bulb give the de- 10 the rear of a panel to operate a pen or indicator sired action of the helix 22 in winding and arm or the like mounted on the face of the panel, unwinding'about its axis. but it may be mounted in other ways. In order to avoid disturbing the connection [8 Other novel features relate to a simple adjustin calibrating, a separate tube 24 may be attached ing means arranged in a novel manner for actuto the fixed end of the helix 22. The instrument 15 ation by a screw driver or the like from the front is then, in assembling it, deliberately filled with of the panel, to a novel mounting and arrangetoo much gas. In calibrating it, part of the gas ment of the operating parts, and to other imis released through tube 24, and when the desired proved features and desirable constructions which gas pressure is reached the tube 24 ispinched off v will be apparent from the following description of and soldered shut. Thereafter corrections by way 20 the illustrative embodiment shown in the accomof calibration are made by introducing more gas panying drawing, in which: through the tube 24 or releasing some there- Figure l is a partial vertical section through through, and each time the tube is again pinched the upper part of a panel having the novel suboff and resoldered.

Z5 assembly mounted on its rear face; 7 One end of the helix 22 is soldered or otherwise 25 Figure 2 is-a section on a larger scale through fixed to a head- 26 by means such as a connecting the illustrative thermometer unit, but arranged part 21 soldered to both the helix and the head facing the other way from Figure 1; I 26, the head 26 being in turn secured (by a set,-

Figure 3-is a front elevation of the unit; screw 28 or the like) to an adjusting sleeve 30; V 30 Figure 4 is aperspective view of thehead of the The sleeve 30 has in its ends, bearings in which 3oinstrument casing; there is journaled an operating shaft 32. This Figure 5 is a perspective view of the sealing cap shaft has mounted on or affixed to its end, within which cooperates therewith; the helix 22, a member formed with a crank 34 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stamped having an extension 36 parallel to but spaced 35 metal housing; 7 from the axis of the helix. 35

Figure '7 is a perspective'view of the adjusting The free end of-the helix has soldered or othersleeve; wise secured thereto a radial connecting arm 38 Figure 8 is a perspective view of-the operating which is soldered or otherwise firmly secured to shaft and its connections; V the extension 36. Thus the twisting motion of Figure 9 is a perspective view of the helix. and the helix 22, due to changes of temperature 40 the attached operating parts; around the bulb, is transformed by the arm '38 Figure 10 isa perspective .view of the pen-carryand the extension 36 and the crank 34 into rotary ing'member, on the end of the operating shaft; motion of the shaft 32. As is well understood in Figure 11 is a perspective view of the entire subthis art, in calibrating the instrument the arm 38 assembly, showing how it is adjusted; and may be moved along the helix 22 in such a. man- 45 Figure 12 is a section corresponding to Figure nor as to bring into operation more or less of its 1, but showing a different embodiment of the sube assembly unit. V The operating shaft 32 has fixed at its front The particular instrument selected for illustraend a part 40 carrying-any desired indicating or I tion in the embodiment of the invention herein recording device, shown as an "arm 42 carrying 50 described isa thermometer having abulb intended a pen 44. j to be placed in the space whose temperature it is The adjusting sleeve 30 is journaled in acentral intended to measure, and which communicates boss of a novel head 46, axial movement being with the indicating and recording part of the inprevented bya setscrew 48 extending into anane' strument by a remote control such as a flexible V nular groovei50. Thehead 46 has abutting there; 55: 5:

7 against a closed and preferably drawn metal seamless housing 52 which incloses the helix 22 r and associated parts. 'I'he housing 52 may be gether, and with a chart in place,

formed at its edge with a depressed lip 54 engaged and locked by a closure member 56 secured to thehead 46 by fastenings such as screws 58. If desired to make a factory assembly of the instrument, screws 58 may be countersunk and their heads covered'by sealing wax or the like. The head 46 and the closure member 56 are formed with registering grooves 60 forming ,a

passage through which the remote controltube 'l8 passes, and which head and cap grip and hold theupper end ofthe flexible protective casing n 20, as shown in Figure 2. Thus the instrument is in itself a sealed and fully protected subassembly. v

In order to facilitate the zero adjustment of the instrument, which is accomplished by turn ing the entire helix with the parts attached thereto, by rotating the sleeve 38 the sleeve is provided with operating means such as a spur gear 62 seated in a circular socket 64in the face of the head 46.. A second circular socket B6 communicates with the socket 64, so that, as shown in Figure 11, a screw-driver 68 or the like may be inserted androtated therein, .formingin effect a two-toothed gear meshing with and drivingfthe spur gearjfiZ f Ifhiszeroadjustmentis ordinarily made when the entire assemblyhas been put to- According to an important feature of the invention, an instrument such as the one described aboveis intended to be'mounted directly on the;

rear face of a panel or support 12 by means of suitable screws or other fastenings, in peripheral sealing engagement therewith and with the opcrating member 32 extending through to the 7 front of the panel. When'so inounted'the arm mechanism is held in placeby screws 86Ior the like f astenings. f

. A glazed dished 'coveror door 9,0,1 provided'if desired with a rubber sealinggasket 92, is hinged or otherwise mountedfon the face of the panel, in sealing peripheral: engagement therewith, and covers over the chart 14 and'the arm 42 with its pen 44. Thus the entire assembly, although hav ing'no outer casing and no separate supporting frame, is completely housed and is fully pro- 'tected.

His only necessary tofdrill through the'panel a number of holes for the shafts 32 and 16, for

the fastening's" holding the instrument and the motor mechanism, and for the fastening's for the door; 90, and the completeassembly may quickly .and ea sily beput togethen'as easily in fact as one of the old'instruments' canlbe mounted on a panel.

' One advantage of the new instrument is'that when itis' 5 necessary to repair the recording ins'trument subassembly the entire instrument may readily be removed and returned to the factory.

In the meantime :it is replacedby a spare instrument, which has previously been calibrated at the factory, and which requires adjustment only as to its zero setting. V V

In the arrangement of Figure 12, the casing E52 of the instrument is open at the front, and is provided with a rubber gasket I82 insealing engagement with the rear face of the panel, where it is held by suitable machine screws or other fastenings which pass through the panel, The tube l8 in this case communicates with the outer end of the helix 22, and the latter is mounted on a bracket I26 which'is secured to the casing [52 and to the panel 12. The free end of the helix 22 is secured by a connection I36 to the shaft 32. While one illustrative embodiment has been.

* described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular em-- bodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An instrument having'operating means and. adapted to be mounted on the back of a support comprising a cup-shaped housing surrounding the operating means of said instrument and formed at its edge with a projecting lip, a head having a flange at least partially 'encircling'the' opengend'of thehousing, and a closure member engaging 'said'lip and secured to said head, the

head being formed to be attached to the rear face of a support in close sealing engagement therewith and the instrument having an operat ing member extending from inside the housing through said head and adapted to, extend through the support when the instrument is mounted thereon. 1 V

2. An instrument having operating means and adapted to be mounted on the back of a support'comprising a cup-shaped housing surround ing the operating means of said instrument and formed atgitsjedge with a projecting lip, a head having a flange at least partially encircling the open endof the housing, and a closure member engaging said lip and secured to said head.

' 3. An instrument having operating means and adapted to be'mounted on the back of a support comprising a cup-shaped housing surround ing" the operating means of said instrument and formed 'at its edge with a projecting lip, a head having a flange at least partially encircling the a 'open end of the housing, anda closure member engaging said lip secured to said head, the head" 1 and, said closure member having registering grooves and said instrument having a connection to a remote control extending throughthe passage formed. by the, registering grooves into the exterior of said housing. g

, 4. An instrument comprising a flathollow'tube I coiled into a helix, a head towhich one end of the helix is attacheda sleeve on which said head is mounted, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a crank on the end of the shaft having an extension paralleling the 'axis of the helix and spaced therefrom, and an arm extending radially of the helix and connecting the end of the extension to the end of the helix.

' '5. An instrument comprising a flat hollow tube coiled into a helix, a support to which one end of the helix is attached, a shaft passing. through 'said support, a crank on the end of the shaft having an extension paralleling the axis of the helix and spaced therefrom, and an arm extending radially. of the helix and connecting the end of the extension to the other end of the '75-' helix,

6. An instrument comprising a fiat hollow tube coiled into a helix, a head to which one end of the helix is attached, a sleeve on which said head is mounted, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a crank on the end of the shaft having an extension paralleling the axis of the helix and spaced therefrom, an arm extending radially of the helix and connecting the end of the extension to the end of the helix, a support adjacent said head and in the center of which said sleeve is journaled and which has a radial passage therethrough, a tubular connection extending through said passage and connectedto the first end of said helix, and a cup-shaped housing inclosing said helix and having its open end seated against said support, whereby said housing is closed.

7. An instrument comprising a flat hollow tube coiled into a helix, a head to which one end of the helix is attached, a sleeve on which said head is mounted, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a crank on the end of the shaft having an extension paralleling the axis of the helix and spaced therefrom, an arm extending radially of the helix and connecting the end of the extension tothe end of the helix, and a support adjacent said head and in the center of which said sleeve is journaled, said sleeve having a part for engagement with a tool to turn the sleeve in the support to adjust the position of the helix.

8. An instrument comprising a flat hollow tube coiled into a helix, a head to which one end of the helix'is attached, a sleeve on which said head is mounted, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, a crank on the end of the shaft having an extension paralleling the axis of the helix and spaced therefrom, an arm extending radially of the helix and connecting the end of the extension to the end of the helix, and a support adjacent said head and in the center of which said sleeve is journaled, the sleeve having a spur gear thereon and the support having a circular socket into which one side of the spur gear extends and which socket is adapted rotatably to receive the end of a screwdriver, which thereby becomes in effect a two-toothed gear meshing with and driving the spur gear on said sleeve.

9. An instrument comprising a sleeve, a support in which said sleeve is journaled, means responsive to changes in a condition to be observed carried by said sleeve and a connection to a remote control extending through said support and connected to said means, said sleeve having a part for engagement with a tool to turn the sleeve in the support to adjust the position of said means. V

10. An instrument comprising a sleeve, a support in which said sleeve is journaled, a shaft journaled in said sleeve and carrying a member for indicating a condition to be observed, means responsive to said condition and connected to said sleeve and said shaft and a connection to a remote control extending through said support and connected to said means, said sleeve having a part for engagement with a tool to turn the sleeve in the support to adjust the position of said means.

11. An instrument comprising a sleeve, a support in which said sleeve is journaled, and means responsive to changes in a condition to be observed carried by said sleeve, the sleeve having a spur gear thereon and the support having an opening into which one side of the gear extends and which opening is adapted to receive the end of a tool which engages the spur gear to turn it thereby to adjust the position of the sleeve and means relative to the support.

ALBERT F. SPITZGLASS. 

